Six Auckland City Councillors Say Yes To Falun Gong In Santa Parade

Six of the twenty councilors on Auckland City Council today lent their weight to the call for Auckland Santa Parade organisers to allow the Falun Gong to participate in Sunday’s Santa Parade.

This afternoon, three City Vision councillors, two Labour councillors and one independent councilor called for Michael Barnett to rescind his decision to exclude the Divine Land Marching Band from Sunday’s parade:

Cr Casey (City Vision)
Cr Fryer (City Vision)
Cr Easte (City Vision)
Cr Northey (Labour)
Cr Boyle (Labour)
Cr Roche (Independent)

Councillor Casey said that her colleagues were disappointed that parade organisers are still confirming their ban despite the wonderful performance by the Falun Gong in the Wellington Santa Parade this weekend.

“We are not impressed by the negative attitude towards the Divine Land Marching Band by the parade organisers in Auckland.

“It is timely to remind them that $113,000 of ratepayers’ money goes in to the organisation and promotion of the Auckland Santa Parade. We think the public deserves the best entertainment for their dollar and the Divine Land Marching Band has proved it can provide that, by performing throughout the country and in the greater Auckland area to very appreciative audiences.’

“Our message to Mr Barnett is to stop being the grinch who stole Christmas!”

ENDS

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/print.html?path=AK0711/S00171.htm